Academic Affairs

Accreditation

Accreditation

Saint Mary's College Accreditation

Since 1948, Saint Mary's College (SMC) has been accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Attaining and maintaining institutional accreditation is considered an imperative for all colleges and universities, as it assures the public that an institution has been rigorously evaluated and deemed to have met high standards for quality and effectiveness. Accreditation confers a variety of benefits, especially providing students access to federal financial aid resources such as federal loans, grants, and work-study.

 

WSCUC Accreditation Status at Saint Mary’s College

The timeline below summarizes the College's current accreditation cycle. Historical accreditation documents and prior reaffirmation materials are available in the Accreditation Archive below.

Completed Milestones

Upcoming Milestones

  • November 1, 2026 – Progress Report due.
  • Fall 2027 – WSCUC Special Visit.
  • Spring 2029 – Reaffirmation Off-site Review.
  • Fall 2029 – Comprehensive Accreditation Visit.
     

A Message to the Saint Mary’s Community from President Roger Thompson

July 13, 2026

Saint Mary’s College appreciates the thoughtful review and guidance provided by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) throughout the current accreditation process. We take the Commission's findings seriously and are fully committed to addressing the priorities outlined in its recent Action Letter. 

Saint Mary’s remains fully accredited, and our focus is clear: to build a stronger, more sustainable future while continuing to provide the exceptional educational experience that has defined this institution for generations. We value WSCUC’s partnership in that work and will continue to engage openly with the Commission as we implement our plan and demonstrate continued progress.

The challenges outlined by WSCUC—particularly those related to enrollment, financial sustainability, and institutional planning—are ones we have been actively addressing since I joined Saint Mary’s. Shortly after my arrival in July 2024, we launched a comprehensive three-year plan to strengthen Saint Mary’s long-term financial health, align our resources with our mission, and position the College for lasting success. While this work has required difficult decisions and meaningful sacrifice across our community, it is already producing measurable progress. We remain steadfast in our commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.

We are committed to keeping our community informed as this work continues because transparency and open communication are essential to building trust. I also recognize that the decisions required over the past two years have affected members of our community in very real ways. I remain deeply grateful for the resilience, dedication, and commitment our faculty, staff, and students have shown during this period of significant change. 

The work ahead will require continued discipline, collaboration, and a shared commitment to our future. I am confident that, together, we will successfully meet this challenge, strengthen Saint Mary’s, and ensure that future generations of students continue to benefit from the distinctive Lasallian Catholic education that has defined this College for more than 160 years. 

WASC Senior College and University Commission Statement on the Status of Saint Mary’s College of California

On June 26, 2026, the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) voted to issue a Warning for Saint Mary’s College of California (SMCC).

Warning reflects the Commission’s finding that an institution fails to meet one or more of the WSCUC Standards of Accreditation. The Commission has determined that Saint Mary’s College of California is not in compliance with WSCUC Standard 3. When the Commission finds that an institution fails to meet one or more of the Standards of Accreditation, it is required to notify the institution of these findings and give the institution a period of time to correct the deficiencies. Under the Commission’s policies, the timeframe may not exceed two years. It is the responsibility of the Commission to determine, at the end of the sanction period, whether the institution has made the necessary corrections and has come into compliance with Commission Standards.

The accredited status of Saint Mary’s College of California continues during the Warning period and students’ status within the college is not affected by this sanction. The Commission’s decision to issue a Warning on Saint Mary’s College of California is subject to the terms and conditions contained in the Commission Action Letter dated July 9, 2026. This document is available on the WSCUC website. Anyone who has questions about Saint Mary’s College of California’s accreditation status can contact provost@stmarys-ca.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Accreditation


1. What is Accreditation and Re-Affirmation?

WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) is an institutional accreditor of higher education recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. WSCUC reaffirmations range from 6-10 years. WSCUC's accreditation model is designed as a process of continuous institutional improvement. As a result, it is not uncommon for institutions to be asked to submit Progress Reports or participate in Special Visits between reaffirmation cycles to provide evidence of progress on specific recommendations or areas of focus. The process in WSCUC is Peer review, completed by a team of visiting personnel from peer institutions, volunteer work by members of the team, with formal liaisons from the Commission Office, and a final review by a Commission panel.
 

2. What standards and Criteria will WSCUC use to evaluate SMC?

WSCUC evaluates institutions using four Standards of Accreditation and their associated Criteria for Review (CFRs), as outlined in the 2023 Handbook.

     Standard 1: Defining Institutional Mission and Acting with Integrity
     Standard 2: Achieving Educational Objectives and Student Success
     Standard 3: Assuring Resources and Organizational Structures
     Standard 4: Creating an Institution Committed to Quality Assurance and Improvement

Together, these Standards provide the framework WSCUC uses to evaluate institutional quality, educational effectiveness, governance, financial sustainability, and the institution's commitment to continuous improvement.

Accreditation Archive

The following milestones document the College's 2023 comprehensive reaffirmation review and prior accreditation reviews.

2023 Comprehensive Reaffirmation Review

  • January 5, 2023 – SMC Institutional Report (Self-Study) submitted to WSCUC.
  • March 16, 2023 – WSCUC Off-site Review.
  • September 12, 2023 – Additional documentation submitted to the review team.
  • November 7–9, 2023 – WSCUC On-site Accreditation Visit.
  • January 3, 2024 – WSCUC Team Report finalized.
  • January 17, 2024 – Saint Mary's College response to the Team Report submitted.
  • February 15, 2024 – Commission panel meeting.
  • March 6, 2024 – WSCUC Commission Action Letter reaffirming accreditation.

Previous Accreditation Cycles

  • Saint Mary's College WASC Interim Report (November 2018)
  • WASC 2019 Interim Report Action Summary
  • WASC Commission Action Letter (March 2015)
  • 2009–2015 Accreditation History

 

SMC Professional Accreditation

Specialized Accreditation, Program Approvals, and Regulatory Authorization

In addition to institutional accreditation by WSCUC, several academic programs and College entities maintain specialized accreditation, state approvals, or other external recognitions that support professional licensure, regulatory compliance, and quality assurance.

Educator Preparation Programs

California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC)
The educator preparation programs offered by the Kalmanovitz School of Education are approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

Counseling Programs

California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS)
The Master of Arts in Counseling (Clinical Mental Health Counseling) and the Master of Arts in Counseling (Marriage and Family Therapy) meet the educational requirements established by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences for licensure as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), respectively.

Business Programs

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
The undergraduate business majors (excluding Economics) and graduate business programs in the School of Economics and Business Administration are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN)
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) pre-licensure registered nursing program is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN).

Saint Mary's Museum of Art

American Alliance of Museums (AAM)
The Saint Mary's College Museum of Art is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition awarded to museums that demonstrate excellence in governance, collections stewardship, education, and public service.

State Authorization for Distance Education

Saint Mary's College is authorized to offer distance education in accordance with applicable state authorization requirements.

Learn more: SMC State Authorization Policies and Procedures

 

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